To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

ROTC students spend their weekend running around firing M- 16s in the dessert, readying for armed service. / 7
SINCE 1912
DAILY TROJAN
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
WEDNESDAY
April 10, 2002
Of interest...
Students whine and complain about facets of campus life, but rarely do anything about it / 4
News Digest 2 Calendar 2
Opinions 4 Lifestyle 7
The Buzz 7 Classifieds 16
Crossword 17 Sports 20
vol. CVL. no. 49 www.dailytrojan.com
Students take Sample’s office
Protest: Coalition Against Labor Exploitation marches into president's office about concerns with sweatshop ties
By JACKSON DeMOS
Staff Writer
Student activists left President Steven B. Sample’s office Tuesday declaring a partial victory after occupying his office for more than six hours to protest what they say are USC’s ties to sweatshops.
Students and key university officials agreed to wait until May 9 to decide if USC will join the Worker’s Rights Consortium, an agency that activists say better monitors clothing manufacturers that may use
sweatshops or treat workers unfairly.
Since 1999, SCALE has lobbied the USC administration to join the WRC in addition to the Fair Labor Association, another monitoring organization. Nationwide, about 95 universities are WRC members. Several have joined the group in the last several years.
Phil Chiaramonte, associate vice president of Auxilary Services, said the university has been hesitant to join the WRC because it is not inclusive enough. Unlike FLA, no apparel manufacturers are members of the WRC board, Chiaramonte said.
The sit-in started when 12 members of the Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation peacefully marched at noon to the lobby of Sample’s office on the first floor of
I see Protect, page 14 I
Mason Poole I Daily Trojan
Labor link. Students held hands and surrounded Bovard Auditorium to protest USC's alleged tie to sweatshop labor.
Cigarette price jumps nearly $2 at USC
Tobacco: Facilities management imposes $1.94 increase because of a 33 cent increase by manufacturer Phillip Morris
$1.94 Increase
$0.1
Husc
I- ! Core-Mark ■phi"iP Morris
sources: USC. Core-Mark
By ESME BERMUDEZ
Contributing Writer
James Lee slammed his wallet on the counter and cursed after asking for a pack of cigarettes at Commons Tuesday. The cashier said the total would be $7.35 with sales tax. “What?” he asked in disbelief, making her repeat the new price. He handed her the money and walked away with a dumfounded look on his face, swear-
ing that he would never buy a pack of cigarettes at school again.
“It’s ridiculous," said Lee, a freshman majoring in business who buys about a pack a day. “Seven thirty-five for a pack of cigarettes. That's unheard of.”
A $1.94 increase was imposed on all cigarettes Monday in Commons because of an unexplained 33-cent hike that Philip Morris introduced last week, said Ronald Ranasinghe,
director of retail operations.
Core-Mark, USC’s cigarette vendor, informed Ranasinghe two weeks ago of the 33-cent rise. Core-Mark added 5 cents for holding costs, which brought the total increase on USC cigarette sales to $1.25.
Because of this increase Ranasinghe said he was forced to add $1.56 to make up for losses. If he had kept cigarettes at the original $4.85 price, USC would be at a 74 percent loss in labor and storage costs. At $6.79, the price without sales tax, Ranasinghe barely covers I see Cigarette*, page 14 I
L A
Chicana author speaks about cultural experiences, biographies
Event: Sandra Cisneros explores Mexican-American traditions in latest novel
By ROBB FERRIS
Staff Writer
Sandra Cisneros, a Chicana author, confessed that she has an affinity for biographies.
She introduced her recently completed novel “Caramelo” to a room packed with students, supporters and fans, and read several sections of the book after spending a few minutes thanking people “on whose shoulders I stand,” in a lecture and reading in Alfred Newman Recital Hall Tuesday.
“A great Mexican icon died yesterday” Cisneros said, referring to Mexican actress Maria Felix. “It’s sad to see so many great actors and actresses from the golden age of
Mexican cinema dying, but as long as we keep remembering them , they ' will never die.”
Ironically, “Caramelo” begins with a song about Maria Felix, which Cisneros sang a capella.
Cisneros published her first novel, “The House on Mango Street,” in 1983j The book is a autobiographical novel that details the story of a young Latin-American girl growing up in Chicago.
Now, the 47-year-old author feels her second novel gave her the chance to better explore the Mexican-American experience.
“Caramelo” was originally intended to be a story about Cisneros’ father, but she soon realized she could not tell her father’s story without telling the story of her mother and grandmother as well.
“The House on Mango Street” has only a handful of characters, and
I see Cisneros, page 15 I
"... It 's sad to see so many great actors and actresses from the golden age of Mexican cinema dying but as long as we keep remembering them, they will never die."
SANDRA
CISNEROS
author
£ -
Lizzie Litzelll Daily Trojan
Speaking up. Chicana author Sandra Cisneros spoke about her new book “Caramelo” on Tuesday night.
Senate confirms most appointed student officers
Meeting: Many newly elected Senators confused about parliamentary procedures
By ART PRIROMPRINTR & SOPHIA KAZMI
Staff Writers
Student Senate’s objective of confirming directors of the president’s executive cabinet abruptly ended Tuesday night when quorum was lost as the number of voting members in attendance slowly dwindled due to the growing length of the nearly three-hour meeting.
Because of a lack of quorum, Senate could not discuss a resolution that would have endorsed protest against sweatshop labor in President Steven B. Sample’s office Tuesday afternoon sponsored by StuHent Coalition Against Labor Exploitation and Movimiento de Estudiantil Chicanos de Azatlan. Senate tabled the resolution until next weeks meeting.
All of the confirmations that were originally on the agenda were made with the exception of one which was tabled. Two appointments that were not originally on the agenda, but were added to the end of the meeting, will be confirmed next week.
While debates about confirmations took up the bulk of the time, confusion on the enactment of Senate parliamentary procedures further prolonged the meeting. These problems could be largely attributed to new administration’s unfamiliarity with the technical details of running the senate meeting, said vice president Lauren Geissler, a junior majoring in public I see Senate, page 13 I

ROTC students spend their weekend running around firing M- 16s in the dessert, readying for armed service. / 7
SINCE 1912
DAILY TROJAN
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
WEDNESDAY
April 10, 2002
Of interest...
Students whine and complain about facets of campus life, but rarely do anything about it / 4
News Digest 2 Calendar 2
Opinions 4 Lifestyle 7
The Buzz 7 Classifieds 16
Crossword 17 Sports 20
vol. CVL. no. 49 www.dailytrojan.com
Students take Sample’s office
Protest: Coalition Against Labor Exploitation marches into president's office about concerns with sweatshop ties
By JACKSON DeMOS
Staff Writer
Student activists left President Steven B. Sample’s office Tuesday declaring a partial victory after occupying his office for more than six hours to protest what they say are USC’s ties to sweatshops.
Students and key university officials agreed to wait until May 9 to decide if USC will join the Worker’s Rights Consortium, an agency that activists say better monitors clothing manufacturers that may use
sweatshops or treat workers unfairly.
Since 1999, SCALE has lobbied the USC administration to join the WRC in addition to the Fair Labor Association, another monitoring organization. Nationwide, about 95 universities are WRC members. Several have joined the group in the last several years.
Phil Chiaramonte, associate vice president of Auxilary Services, said the university has been hesitant to join the WRC because it is not inclusive enough. Unlike FLA, no apparel manufacturers are members of the WRC board, Chiaramonte said.
The sit-in started when 12 members of the Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation peacefully marched at noon to the lobby of Sample’s office on the first floor of
I see Protect, page 14 I
Mason Poole I Daily Trojan
Labor link. Students held hands and surrounded Bovard Auditorium to protest USC's alleged tie to sweatshop labor.
Cigarette price jumps nearly $2 at USC
Tobacco: Facilities management imposes $1.94 increase because of a 33 cent increase by manufacturer Phillip Morris
$1.94 Increase
$0.1
Husc
I- ! Core-Mark ■phi"iP Morris
sources: USC. Core-Mark
By ESME BERMUDEZ
Contributing Writer
James Lee slammed his wallet on the counter and cursed after asking for a pack of cigarettes at Commons Tuesday. The cashier said the total would be $7.35 with sales tax. “What?” he asked in disbelief, making her repeat the new price. He handed her the money and walked away with a dumfounded look on his face, swear-
ing that he would never buy a pack of cigarettes at school again.
“It’s ridiculous," said Lee, a freshman majoring in business who buys about a pack a day. “Seven thirty-five for a pack of cigarettes. That's unheard of.”
A $1.94 increase was imposed on all cigarettes Monday in Commons because of an unexplained 33-cent hike that Philip Morris introduced last week, said Ronald Ranasinghe,
director of retail operations.
Core-Mark, USC’s cigarette vendor, informed Ranasinghe two weeks ago of the 33-cent rise. Core-Mark added 5 cents for holding costs, which brought the total increase on USC cigarette sales to $1.25.
Because of this increase Ranasinghe said he was forced to add $1.56 to make up for losses. If he had kept cigarettes at the original $4.85 price, USC would be at a 74 percent loss in labor and storage costs. At $6.79, the price without sales tax, Ranasinghe barely covers I see Cigarette*, page 14 I
L A
Chicana author speaks about cultural experiences, biographies
Event: Sandra Cisneros explores Mexican-American traditions in latest novel
By ROBB FERRIS
Staff Writer
Sandra Cisneros, a Chicana author, confessed that she has an affinity for biographies.
She introduced her recently completed novel “Caramelo” to a room packed with students, supporters and fans, and read several sections of the book after spending a few minutes thanking people “on whose shoulders I stand,” in a lecture and reading in Alfred Newman Recital Hall Tuesday.
“A great Mexican icon died yesterday” Cisneros said, referring to Mexican actress Maria Felix. “It’s sad to see so many great actors and actresses from the golden age of
Mexican cinema dying, but as long as we keep remembering them , they ' will never die.”
Ironically, “Caramelo” begins with a song about Maria Felix, which Cisneros sang a capella.
Cisneros published her first novel, “The House on Mango Street,” in 1983j The book is a autobiographical novel that details the story of a young Latin-American girl growing up in Chicago.
Now, the 47-year-old author feels her second novel gave her the chance to better explore the Mexican-American experience.
“Caramelo” was originally intended to be a story about Cisneros’ father, but she soon realized she could not tell her father’s story without telling the story of her mother and grandmother as well.
“The House on Mango Street” has only a handful of characters, and
I see Cisneros, page 15 I
"... It 's sad to see so many great actors and actresses from the golden age of Mexican cinema dying but as long as we keep remembering them, they will never die."
SANDRA
CISNEROS
author
£ -
Lizzie Litzelll Daily Trojan
Speaking up. Chicana author Sandra Cisneros spoke about her new book “Caramelo” on Tuesday night.
Senate confirms most appointed student officers
Meeting: Many newly elected Senators confused about parliamentary procedures
By ART PRIROMPRINTR & SOPHIA KAZMI
Staff Writers
Student Senate’s objective of confirming directors of the president’s executive cabinet abruptly ended Tuesday night when quorum was lost as the number of voting members in attendance slowly dwindled due to the growing length of the nearly three-hour meeting.
Because of a lack of quorum, Senate could not discuss a resolution that would have endorsed protest against sweatshop labor in President Steven B. Sample’s office Tuesday afternoon sponsored by StuHent Coalition Against Labor Exploitation and Movimiento de Estudiantil Chicanos de Azatlan. Senate tabled the resolution until next weeks meeting.
All of the confirmations that were originally on the agenda were made with the exception of one which was tabled. Two appointments that were not originally on the agenda, but were added to the end of the meeting, will be confirmed next week.
While debates about confirmations took up the bulk of the time, confusion on the enactment of Senate parliamentary procedures further prolonged the meeting. These problems could be largely attributed to new administration’s unfamiliarity with the technical details of running the senate meeting, said vice president Lauren Geissler, a junior majoring in public I see Senate, page 13 I